Apparatus for setting time-fuses.



No. 699,900. A Patented May l3. I902.

C. P. E. SCHNEIDER &. J. B. G. A. CANET. APPARATUS FOR SETTING TIME FUSES.

(Application filed Tune 18, 1901.)

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

y S MI [I 0 l 6 0 Z No. 699,900. Patented May 13, I902.

C. PL E. SCHNEIDER & J. B. G. A. CANET.

APPARATUS FOR SETTING TIME FUSES.

(Application filed June 18, 1901.) I

3 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 699,909. Patented may 13, 1992 c. P. E. 9999mm 9 .1. 9. G. A. man.

APPARATUS FOR SETTiNG TIME FUSES.

(Application filed June 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

I m G 4 9 v m w w 9 m F.

iinirno entree (fiss on;

Fermi CHARLES PROSPER; EUQERNE SCHNEIDER AND JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADQLPI'IE'UANET, OF LE CREUSOT, FRANGE.

Aeeeestns ro e Serrano Tani menses.

SPECIFICATION forming port of Letters Patent No. 699,900, dated May 13, 1902. Appllc etlon filed June 18,1901. S rial No. 64,994. (No model.)

25 vation at Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings) are for the purpose of setting them provided with a scale and an index or pointer carried,respectively,by a movable ringordisl;

1 and a fixed ring or disk 2, connected with the body of the fuse.

rings relatively to the other it is evident that the length of fuse composition to be burned will be increased or diininished in accordence with the variation of the angular displacement of one ring relatively to the other. In order that the setting may be exact, it is necessary for tvvo predetermined points-that is to say, the index and one of the gradnatione of the scale-to be set so as to coincide. When effected by hand in the usnel manner, the said setting is Wanting in rapidity and precision, and, furthermore, no means for controlling the setting of the fuse exist, and the adjustment therefore necesasrily varies in each fuse, whereas for-accurate firing such adjustment should be identical.

According to our invention we employ a mechanical arrangement for setting timefnses which not only greatly facilitates the operation of setting, but at the same time renders each setting absolutely precise and identical for any number of fuses and afifords every facility of control.

In principle onr invention comprises an apparatus which can be applied. to the fuse on the projectile or inversely, into wliich'the head of the projectile, with its fuse, can be inserted. The said apparatus is provided with two clutch-pieces so arranged as to be so capable of cnga'gi mg with appropriate recesses KDO PHE (JANET, engineer,

By turning one of the of an apparatus embodying .3 and i in the stationary ring 1 and'tho movable ring 2, respectively, when the setting of the fuse is to be effected and to be autoinaticaily or otherwise disengaged from thesaid recesses to allow of the removal of the pro jeciilo after the setting has been performed. One or both of these clutch-pieces inaj f be movable, so as to enable their angular-distance apart to be altered at will, and this zingnlar distance, which may be read oil? a divided scale or dial, determines the corresponding angular position of the recesses 3 and 4, and consequently also the desired setting oi the fuse whenihe said recesses are engaged by their respective clutch-pieces.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the some more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of em 7o ample, various forms of the apparatus.

Figs. 1 and 2 are, elevations of time-fuses such as are adapted to be set by the apparel toe of this invention 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 4: a plan View,

my invention. Figs. (3 end 7' are'siinilar views of e, diiierent embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 5 e detail sectional vievfon line E F of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 end i are views similar-to; Figs. 6 and 8e 7 of still enother'enibodiinent, and Fig. 10 is.

a sectional view on line G H of Fig. 8. y

As shown in the drawings, our eppcratns comprises a rectangular casing a, mounted on e. loose I) and inclosing two mechanical con trivances of symmetrical form tor setting the fuses, each of such contrivcnces comprising a cup-shaped carrier c and e fuse-cop (1, arranged in the some verticnl axis and fun. H nished with two epringwpereted locking- 9c bolts 6 f. Theme-shaped. ce'rrieris prolonged" downwardly by a comically-shaped part and a hollow rod, the former Of'Whlfiil is provided with bevel-teeth g. The hoiiow rod-enters a" socket forming port of the casing, said socket 5 constituting agnide both for the'cerrier and the stern of the fuse-cap. The bevel-teeth g gear with a bevel-Wheel 71., whose diameter is el -incl to that of the toothed portion of the cerricr awi which is carried by a smell hori- Ico 'ing.

a finger-piece m, Fig. i, by which it can be.

disengaged from the crank-handle when the latter is required to beoperated; but said pin recngages automatically with the recess each time the crank returns to this vertical downward position. The gear-wheels are so proportioned that for each revolution of the crank the cup-shaped carrier 0 performs two revolotions. The fuse-cap d, which is situated Within the said carrier, is prolonged by a dmvnwardly-projecting rod or stem which serves as a guide and support by extending for its entire length through the hollow rod of the carrier and entering at its lower end into a socket in the base-plate of the casing. The stem is fitted near its lower end with a spur-wheel n, gearing with another spurwheel 0 of equal diameter, keyed to a vertical shaft 1), provided in the center of the eas- At a convenient part of the shaft 1; is formed a worm-wheel q, which is operated by a worm r, the horizontal shaft of which worm extends transversely through the casing and is provided with 'a wheel s, having a crankhandle. This handle is provided with a spring-controlled piston, so as to enable the said wheel to be fixed in the required stopping position by means of a pin or catch engaging in appropriate recesses provided in the casing. The vertical shaft 1') projects beyond the upper part of the casing, so as to receive the dial 1%, which is provided with graduations corresponding with those on the fuse, an index it being engraved upon the casing; Ob-

viously by operating the wheels the position of both of the fuse-caps is simultaneously ad-- justed, such position being determined by the graduations of the dial and the index on the casing. Thus the angular position of the bolts freiatively to the fixed bolts (2 is adjusted. Collars o, detachably screwed into the casing, keep the cup-shaped carriers in their places, while permitting their removal when required. They also serve as guides for the projectiles and protect the edges of the carriers.

For setting a fuse such as that shown in Fig. 2, whatever may be at this time the position of the movable ring,.the procedure is as follows: First, find on the dial the graduation or division for the required period of combustion of the fuse composition, and then move it into a position opposite to the index on the casing. For this purpose it will be necessary to disengage the lockingpin or catch of/thc handle of the wheel 5 from its recess and then turn the saidwheel in the desired direction until the desired graduation or division nearly coincides with the index, whereupon the locking pin or catch is allowed to enter the nearest hole to stop the wheel in. I

the bolts again when the'recesses in the fuse are brought opposite the bolts. Third, turn each crank-handle i one revolution in the desired direction either successively or simultaneously, according to whether one or both projectiles are in position. The fuse is prop erly set after a revolution of the crank-handle and its reengagement with the locking pin I. It will be clear that the stationary ring'i of the fuse has now acq uir'ed its proper position relatively to the movable ring 1, and that therefore the angular distance apart of the recesses in the stationary and fixed rings corresponds with thatpreviously given to the bolts e and f. The engagement of the locking-pin Z with the handle'is, as already stated, automatic, and it is only necessary to disengage it by pushing back the finger-piece in, connected with the said locking-pin, without, however, having to remove the hand from the crank-handle. Fourth, lift out the projectiles vertically without turning them and then replace them by fresh ones. As the projectiles are removed the bolts disengage themselves. The time required for setting a fuse is equivalent to the time occupied in giving one revolution to the crankdiandle. If it is desired to alter the setting of a fuse that has already been set, it suiiices to actuate the wheel .9 in the manner previously stated, so as to move the dial t and bring the required graduation or division-line thereon opposite to the index, and in this manner the fuse can be reset without the use of the crankhandles '6.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 comprises the casinga, formed with two cylindrical portions connected together and having a co'fnmou'base E. Each cylindrical portion contains a cup shaped carrier and a fuse-cap furnished with the spring-bolts 0 1), similar to those previously described. The plate I) closes the casinga at the lower end, while at the upper end ofsaid casing are two graduated rings 0 c, which serve to keep the fuse-caps and the carriers in their proper position within the aforesaid cylindrical portions. The said carriers are formed with worm-teeth m on their peripheral surfaces, and said teeth gear with worms d d, which are operated simultaneously by spur-pinions e c. One of the spindles of said worms is provided 'at its extremity with a wheel -z' fornished with a handle f. As in the prcviouslydescribed arrangements, this handle is constructed with a spring-controlled piston, and

through the lid of the ammunitionchestor,

box, where it is iittedwith a erank-handlej for operating the apparatus. This handle is provided with a catch 70, adapted to enter a slot I in a block fixed to the said lid. The

apparatus is adjusted for the required setting of the'fuse by moving the carriers, with their graduated rings, to a point opposite to the proper divisiondine or graduation of the said gi-aduatedrings. This operationisef- 2o fected in both carrierssimultaneously byopcrating the whcel't'f For setting the fuses of the projectiles placedin the apparatus a revo lntion of'the crankhandle is eltected in either direction, the said craulc-handlebeing unlocked by pressing the protruding end ofthe catch 1; inward. The reengagemen stakes place automatically at the completion ofthe rotation of'the said crank-handle. justments of thesettiug of the fuses may be 3 efiected when the projectiles are in the apparatns, audit the bolts have been set to ou gage with the fuses by previous adjustment the alteration or readjustment is effected.

automatically by operating the wheel 1 with- 5 out its being necessary to again operate the liaudlej. y

The fuse-setting apparatus shown in Figs. 8, i), and 10 are constructed in single form andare therefore easily transported from place to place. They may be held-in the hand while in use or may be otherwise held in any convenient manner. The apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a casing d, with a handle I), said casing containinga cup-shaped 5 carrier 0 and a fuse-cap d, which are retained in position in the casing by a graduated ring e. The carrier is furnished on its periphery with teeth that gear with-a spiral gear 1', car-' ried by a spindle which is supported in the handle I). At one of its extremities the said carrier is furnished with a spring-controlled bolt g, and it also has an index h, Fig.0; on

its outer face and a stud i tormovinig said carrier by hand. The spiral gear f may be disengaged bya slight pull on the ring forming part of the aforesaid spindle of the han die 1/, so as to compress a spring r, which bears at one end against a shoulder in of handle Z1 and at its other end against the rear face of the spiral gear f. A milled head lirhas a square opening therein, in which the square -shank of ring j loosely engages. l['ead- 7a is securely screw-threaded to a'sleeve Z, which may be slid to the right,- Fig. 8, on :a tubular part l against the tension of coiled spring 7;.

Teeth l 6 'on sleeve Z engage corresponding Each fuse-cap is furnished at its.

l notches 'in handle]; when. the parts'are in the j position shown in Fig. a. Pulling on the ring a, as above explained, does notmove milled milled head ii: to the right, Fig. 8, and com pressing spring/r teeth I! are disengaged fromtheir notches. If,'then, the head is turned, the ringj audits spindle will be rotated. Spiral gear f, being in engagement with the teeth of the carrier, will rotate the same. The fusecap (Z is furnished with a erank-handlem for revolving it, and its angular position inthe apparatus is determined by a tooth. 'IL on the crank-handle engaging with arecess in the casingof the apparatus. A spring-actuated plunger o and a pivot p are so arranged as to permit the erankrhandle to be readily unlocked and to be afterward again automatically locked. The spring-actuated plunger norm ally tends to elevate the plunger, so that the tooth '11 engages its recess. The apparatus is adjusted for setting the fuse by causing the index it of the carrier to coincide with the desired divisiomline or graduation on the ring 6. For this purpose itsuilicesto'so act on the milled head it" as to disengage the teeth I Z and'revolve'thein in either direction, the correct coincidence between the index and the divisiondiues or graduations being obtained only l the teeth lvvreiingago in their recesses. In rider to expedite the preliminary setting of the apphratus, the spiral gear is disengaged by'sliTght-ly pulling the ring j,

approximately adjacent tothe desired division or graduation by means of the stud 21, the ringj being atth'o' sametimc released. The milled head 1.: is then operated to reengage the spiral gear if such reengagement has not already-taken place. The exact adjustment ofthe index relatively to the required divi sion-iine orgraduation is thus obtained. The alterations in this adjustment, which are mostly of small amplitude,- are obtained by moving the head It. With this apparatus it suiiices to merely place it over the fuse of the projectile held by. an attendant and then to givetwo revolutions to the crank-handle m for obtaining the proper setting of the fuse. When the crank-handler has been returned to its initial position, the tooth it enters its recess, and the distance between'the bolts 51 and g determines the exact angular distance between the recesses 3 and 4 of the'fu'so, rings. Bytaking the precaution to pie viously introduce'the bolt g in its recess a. single revolution of the crank-handle will suliice; l It is obvious that with the various forms (if apparatus herei -lbeforedescribed the form, arrangenient,'and operation of the various elements may be varied within wide limits without departing from the invention. It will to disengage gear f from the teeth on carrier head 1; and associated parts.- liy pulling and then the index is moved into a position be fixed upon an ammunition-box or a, gungorrege, or it may be arranged to be held by What we claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. In apparatus for setting time-fuses, a casing, two members rotatably mounted in said casing, locking means for holding one of said members in any desired position of eidl justm'e'nt in the casing, manually-operable means for rotating the othermember, and catches one on each member adapted to eng e respectively with end temporarily lock the members to the two parts of the fuse which are reletively'adjustable to give the desired setting.

2'. In apparatus for setting ti'me-fflses 'ef casing, two members rotatably mounted insaid casing, locking moses for holdiug'eue of said members in any desired position of ed 3' ust'ment to which it is rotated, menueliy-opera'bie means for rotating the other member, a stop device acting to arrest the rotation of said other member when it reaches a certain predetermined position, and a catch on each member adapted to engage resgectively with and temporarily lock the members to the two ed to engage respectively with and temporelatively.

re'letiveiy movable parts of tire fuse.

3. In apparatus for setti-i'igv time-fuses a,-

casing, two members rotatably mounted therein, manually-operable gearing for rotating one 'of said members to any desired position of Adjustment and for looking it in said position, manually-operable means for rotating eeeeee a catch es each member eds-pied to engage respectively with and temporarily lock the members to the two relatively movable parts of the fuse."

4. Lu apparatus for setting time-fuses, a casing, two hollow members rotetebly mounted therein adapted to embrace a fuse inserted therein, manually-operable means for rotating one of said members to any desired positien of adj ustment, manually-operable means for rotating the other member, and a springectsated catch on each member adapted to en gage respectivelywith and temporarily lock the member to the two relatively movable parts of the fuse.

5. In apparatus for simultaneously setting We time-fuses, a casing, two mechanisms in said casing each comprising two hollow rotatable members ede'pted't'o embrace a fuse inserted therein, manually-operable means common to both mechanisms "for eim'ultaii'e' eusly rot-siting one of this members of each mechanism to any desired positions-i sdjes'tment, menuellyeperabie means common to both mechanisms for simultaneously rotating the other member of each mechanism springeetueted catches one oneseie memberadept' hereunto set 

